US Navy Ship Attacked in Hormuz Strait: What You Need to Know About Iran’s Missile Strike

On May 4, local Iranian media reported that a U.S. warship attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz was struck and forced to withdraw. 

Yonhap News, citing Iran’s Fars News Agency, said a U.S. Navy frigate attempting to pass the strait was hit by two Iranian missiles in the Gulf of Oman and then withdrew. 

Fars, quoting local sources in southern Iran, alleged the frigate violated navigation and vessel-transit rules while trying to pass near Jask in southeastern Iran. Jask is a port on the Gulf of Oman, just east of the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Fars, the U.S. warship ignored warnings from the Iranian navy and pressed ahead, immediately drawing missile fire. The agency said the frigate sustained two missile strikes and was forced to abort its transit.

The U.S. military denied the account. U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Fact check: a U.S. Navy ship was not struck.” CENTCOM said U.S. forces are supporting “Project Freedom” and are reinforcing a maritime blockade of Iranian ports, dismissing the Iranian media reports.

Earlier that morning, U.S. forces launched “Project Freedom,” an operation using aircraft and ships to escort civilian vessels trapped in the Gulf (Persian Gulf) through the Strait of Hormuz.